Kane Richardson Chooses Test Cricket Over IPL 2018

Kane Richardson who was last seen playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2016 has chosen to play first-class cricket instead of getting lured by the money minded IPL.

Australia fast bowler, Richardson voluntarily chose not to put his name up for the eleventh season of the Indian Premier League to play Test for Sheffield Sheild. Speaking to cricket.com.au Richardson said, “I’ve put in a little bit more of a goal to play more Shield cricket and I thought if I play upwards of seven Shield games, the body is going to need a fair bit of a rest.”

The 26-year-old right arm pacer is aware of the fact that he still has time in his career to play for IPL in the future. This is why he is pushing for a spot in the national Test bowling line-up. Another reason why he chose to remain in his home country during the IPL season is his impending marriage which is to be held in April.

“It’s a hard decision because of the financial rewards. Not a lot of guys do it. I experienced it [the IPL] as a young bloke and made a little bit of money over there so that makes it easier having had that happen. I’m still only 27 next, so hopefully, I can get over there a few more times,” says Richardson.

Currently, he is playing in the first-ever T20I tri-series between Australia, England and New Zealand. In the first two games of the series, Richardson has picked only a single wicket.

IPL Stats

Kane Richardson debuted in IPL in 2013 when he was picked by now-defunct Pune Warriors India for a whopping $700,000. After that season he represented Rajasthan Royals in the following season, subsequently playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016.

The decision to skip IPL for the longer format cricket shows how mature Richardson is in his thinking and his dedication towards cricket. Even though IPL should have filled his pockets, most experts in the cricket world agree to the fact that he made the right move.